“Wherever two or three are gathered together unto (εἰς) my name, there am I in the midst?” Clearly this is not a promise, but a simple statement of fact dependent upon the fulfillment of a condition. In other words, the Lord here says that He is ever in the midst of those who are gathered together unto His name. Everything, therefore, rests upon what this condition means. When the Lord was down here on the earth His name was Jesus (Matthew 1); but He was also the Christ. (John 1:4141He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ. (John 1:41), &c) After His death and resurrection He was made Lord and Christ (Acts 2:3636Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. (Acts 2:36)); and He still retains the name of Jesus. (Acts 7:5959And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. (Acts 7:59); Philippians 2:9-119Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:9‑11), &c) His full name for believers now (though He will have other names and titles by-and-by) is the Lord Jesus Christ. Now name in Scripture is the expression of the truth of what a person is; and so understanding it here, it will be the expression of all that Christ is as the Lord Jesus Christ. The term Lord signifies authority (see Luke 6:4646And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say? (Luke 6:46)); Jesus is His personal name (Luke 1:3131And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. (Luke 1:31)); and inasmuch as He was made Christ after His death and resurrection, this term includes His work. When, then, we are truly gathered unto His name, we are gathered to the truth of His person, His work, and His authority; and these are the three things those gathered unto His name have to maintain. To surrender one only of these would be to give up Christianity—as to its public maintenance. Hence John says, “If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine—the doctrine of the Christ —receive him not into your house, nor bid him God-speed: for he that biddeth him God-speed is partaker of his evil deeds.” (2 John 10,1110If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: 11For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds. (2 John 10‑11)) Such an one indeed has given up the truth of the work of Christ.
But to return. All three things must be held fast if the presence of the Lord is to be enjoyed. And observe that it does not follow that we are gathered unto the name of the Lord Jesus Christ because we profess to be so. Moreover, it will not suffice to say that “we are on that ground;” for the question is, “Is the ground maintained” For example, suppose a company of believers are careful to insist on the truth of the person and of the work of Christ, but are negligent as to His authority—systematically accept the authority of man—they would not be fulfilling the condition of our passage. It behooves us, on this account, carefully to ask ourselves whether, in the regulation and order of assemblies, we are permitting the authority or influence of man in anywise to conflict with the authority of the Lord as expressed in His word. On the other hand, wherever saints are seeking by the grace of God to fulfill this condition of being gathered unto His name, there the Lord is certainly in the midst of them. Into the question of maintaining discipline according to holiness, we do not here enter, as we now call attention only to that which gives the title to the Lord’s presence.
Blessed is it for any company of saints to know that the Lord is in the midst of them. In the millennial day we read, “And the prince in the midst of them, when they go in (to worship), shall go in; and when they go forth, shall go forth.” (Ezekiel 46:1010And the prince in the midst of them, when they go in, shall go in; and when they go forth, shall go forth. (Ezekiel 46:10)) But it is open to us, in anticipation of the Jew, and in a higher and a better way, to have the Lord Jesus Christ in our midst when gathered unto His precious name. E. D.